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Sprinkler blowout valve

I am working on installing a sprinkler system and i am a little confused on where to add the sprinkler blowout valve, i am not sure if this is the right term for it or not. Basically you connect to it to blow out your sprinklers after summer. What is it's name and what does it look like and where to you add this?

So the best and safest way is to install a Quick Coupling Valve and right after my main shut off and filter? Does it need to be burred blow ground level or does it sit above ground level? I am using 1"poly all through out my sprinkler system so how would or what fittings would i use to connect the quick coupling valve to my poly? I am using 1" poly through out i would need a 1" quick coupling vale right? or could i go with the 3/4" one?

Thanks!

This post has been edited 1 times, last edit by "2Quik" (May 25th 2011, 10:27am)

So the best and safest way is to install a Quick Coupling Valve and right after my main shut off and filter?...

Building codes require the connection point to be AFTER a backflow preventer. That's one of the purposes of a backflow preventer. Among other things, the backflow preventer ensures that pressurized air (along with oils and any other "stuff" found in an air compressor) don't get pushed back into the potable water supply when someone forgets to close the shutoff valve between the backflow preventer and the connection point.

So what you need (in this order) is:
1. Main shutoff valve - to totally isolate the entire irrigation system from the rest of the water supply.
2. Filter - so that the water is filtered before it gets to the backflow preventer.
3. Backflow preventer - to protect any potable water linked to the irrigation system.
4. Another shutoff valve - needed to isolate the backflow preventer for blowouts for winterization.
5. Connection point for blowouts - doesn't have to be a quick-connect, but need some means of connection for blowout.
6. Irrigation valves.

Now you might not need a seperate shutoff between the backflow and blowout, if the backflow preventer already has shutoff valves at each end of it. Then there's the issue of how to winterize the backflow preventer itself. What would seem easiest would be to attach the backflow preventer with a pair of unions so that it can be simply removed from the system. If you go this route, I would suggest you buy an additional union and attach dead-end (i.e. capped off) pieces of pipe to the two union halfs. The idea is that when you remove the backflow preventer for the winter, you can protect the pipes from creapy crawlers by attatching the capped off pieces of pipe to the two union halves from where the backflow preventer was removed.

Sprinkler.com states that you use either a hose bib valve or a quick coupler valve should be added to allow for added water availability and for easy system blow-out in the fall. Could you use a hose bib valve too?